Telltale for fuel tanks



July 27, 1937. l. F. HENSLER 2,088,058

` TELLTALE FOR -FUEL TANKS Filed June 7, 1955 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR I July 27, 1937. F, HENSLER 2,088,058

TELLTALE FOR FUEL TANKS Filed June 7, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 2 @25.4. W O'. O y L9. M- 12 INVEN-roR Iyar Hensief HUT? IIN ATT RN YS Patented July 27, 1937 UNl'i'E stares rarer orrics 2,088,058 TLLTALE FOR FUEL TANKS Ivor Francis Hensler, Roosevelt, N. Y. Application June 7, 1935, serial No. 25,373

Y7 Claims. (Cl. 177-311) This invention relates to improvements in a FigureI 1 is a perspective View of the portable portable telltale or overow detector Vfor warntelltale apparatus, ing of the overflow of liquid receptacles, and Figure 2 is a top plan View of the telltale` apmore particularly, it is adapted to prevent obparatus showing the hose in extended position jectionable overiiow when iilling domestic fuel and the top of the hose compartment open,

tanks from a supply truck. Y Figure 3 is a front elevation of the telltale ap- In the lling of fuel tanks, as heretofore pracparatus showing in dotted lines the interior conticed, the fuel oil was usually pumped from the struction, and with the louvers removed to distruck tank to the receiving tank through a hose play the alarm mechanism,

1o and, especially Where the truck was unable to Figure l is a vertical section taken substanl0- come close to the tank, the hose might be of some tially along the line lof Figure 3, f considerable length. Often, through error of Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken substan-A ordering too much Voil or with erroneous gauges, tially along the lines 55 of Figure 4, too much oil is sought to be placed in the tank Figure 6 is a vertical section taken substan- 151 and, without warning to the operator, the tank tially along the line 6 6 of Figure 5 and show- 15 overflows. With pressure operation of the suping the operation of the flow detector,

ply, the oil flows from the vent on the fuel tank Figure 'l is an elevation of a part of the vent in spurts and does considerable damage to buildpipe and coupling with parts in section showing ing, shrubbery, walk, etc., before the operator the manner of attachment,

() can shut off his delivery. The loss of actual oil Figure 8 is a partial perspective view partly in 20 together with the damage done was usually of section showing the arrangement of pouring bafconsiderable extent. Y fles, and f One of the principal objects of my invention is Figure 9 is a detailed Vertical section take to prevent Waste `and damage by providing a substantially along the line 9-9 of Figure 8,

portable, self-contained telltale which is adapted showing the partsof the discharge baffle. 25

to be connected to the vent pipe to catchthe One form of embodiment of Amy invention overilow, such telltale having an alarm which whichI find to be especially suitable for elimiwill be actuated at the first discharge of oil from nating the objectionable overlow from tanks, the vvent so that the operator will shut off the such as fuelV oil tanks dueto the supply of too delivery. o much oil, and which I refer to hereinafter as a' 30 Another object of my invention is to provide telltale, may desirably be enclosed within a port,- a telltale in the form of a Aportable container able container I0 as shown in Fig. l. For conhaving a flexible hose for connecting an alarm venience and ruggedness, I'prefer to make this actuated mechanism with the overflow vent of container i@ of sheet steel, the corners of which '35 an oil tank, so' that the alarm mechanism will are weldedor otherwise secured to make a fluid 35 be set in operation by the flow of liquid to the tight reservoir as hereinafter described. Such a container from'theioverflow ofA a vent pipe, such container is also conveniently provided with a container being of suflicient size to hold as much hinged cover l2 having a suitable handle i4 by overflow as will be normally discharged before which it may be carried to and from its point of 40 the operator can shut V01T `his delivery of oil to use adjacent the tank to be filled. .40 the tank. The container lli may suitably be divided into A further object of myinvention is to provide several parts or compartments, the upper of a portable telltale having a closed alarm'actuatwhich is generally designated et lli, and may be ing and overflow receiving compartment to which referred to as the conduit or hose compartment a ilexible hose extends, the hose Vhaving a quick to receive a suitable length of hose i8, with a 45 lattaching coupling adapted tobe'secured in iiuid quick acting coupling I9 on one end, the other tight relation to the vent pipe of a tank', so that end of the hose `being secured to coupling 20, overow may be conducted into the closed resersecured in the bottom of the hose compartment voir through a closed conduit and thereby kept IS. The quick acting coupling I9 is adapted to free from inflammable-contact. be secured to the vent pipe of the usual fue] oil 50 Further objects 'and advantages of myinventanks, whichis normally exposed to the atmostion will appear from the following disclosure phere outside oi the building. In order to divert thereof taken' in connection with the attached the Overow t0 the telltale m. il S Only necessary drawings which illustrate a preferred embodito have a short length of hose i8 so that it can 'ment of my invention and in which, readily be carried in the hose compartment I6, 55

Ul f

The second and major part of the container it! is the reservoir compartment 22, which takes up almost the entire portion of the container. The reservoir compartment, in addition to serving as a reservoir, has the alarm actuating mechanism as hereinafter described, such mechanism being actuated by the new of oil through the hose it and the coupling 2t which opens into this compartment. This compartment is otherwise liquid tight except for a small discharge opening through which it may be emptied.

The alarm actuating mechanism which is carried in the reservoir compartment and is particularly shown in Figs. 4, 5 and G includes a iiow detector member 28 in the path of the oil flow from the coupling 2t as directed by baifle 2l. As. shown in Fig. 6, the oil will spurt out of the coupiing it when overflow through the vent commences, and it is desirable to know about the flow at once and to stop it. In one form of embodiment which I find to be satisfactory, the oil flow detector it is made in the shape of a receptacle which will hold so-me oil due to the rapid now, although holes Elia. in the bottom of the receptacle permit the receptacle to drain and return to non-alarm sounding position when the flow stops.

I nd that a convenient way of determining the movement of such a iiow detector 26 is to mount it on a shaft 31@ in the manner of a seesaw, with a countervveight 32 to normally baiance the empty receptacle. shaft fait will therefore indicate the condition of flow, such shaft moving into alarm sounding position during a continued overflow, whereas it will rotate to alarm sounding position and out again if there is only an accidental spurt. This will only instantaneously operate the alarm, although continued iiow will give a continued alarm. Such a flow detector is very simple in construction, requires no springs or other variable elements and is highly sensitive. Other flow detectors may be used, however, if desired.

The third compartment 2li in the container may conveniently be referred to as the alarm compartment and whereas the oil reservoir compartment was of necessity sealed tight to prevent escape of liquid, the alarm compartment is desirably open to the atmosphere to provide for free passage of the alarm sounds. For this reason, I prefer to provide an open louver cover 2@ to close this compartment and to render the alarm mechanism accessible. rIhis compartment, however, is sealed with respect to the reservoir compartment so that there can be no danger vof sparks or other ignition of the fuel oil carried in the reservoir.

The alarm mechanism carried in compartment 2li may be of any type suitable for warning the truck operator that the tank is full. Usually the pump on the truck makes so much noise that a loud signal is desired and, as heretofore pointed out, I prefer not only to give the warning at the point of overflow, but to stop the warning when the overflow stops. A sensitive warning signal which tells both conditions is best for the purpose I have in mind. For this reason, I find that a simple electric bell fi@ of the door beli type is very satisfactory, and such bell may be energized by the typical batteries 38 in a suitable open circuit arrangement which includes the contacts Sil and Si?. Preferably, one contact such as 35 is fixed and the other contact lift, which may be of spring type, is se- The rotation of the cured to the shaft 3u, so that when it is rotated the alarm will be sounded. While I have referred above to alarm means as used in an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is apparent that this contemplates any indicating means which Will respond to overow conditions either by giving a signal to the operator or otherwise.

The tank truck operator who desires to fill a fuel tank with oil nor ially attaches his filling hose to the iill pipe leading to the tank in the usual manner and, in order to avoid spills and overflows, he places. the telltale ill in a convenient position adjacent the vent pipe generally indicated at d2 in Fig. 7. The telltale hose I8 is then secured to the vent l2 as by the quick acting coupling E9, the hook ita being hooked about the transverse pin or other projection 20a in the vent. The quick coupling is provided with a lever and nut i912 which will force the coupling and its gasket lilo against the open end of the vent into liquid tight contact therewith.

After the tank has become filled and overflow occurs the oil is conducted in leak proof relation through the coupling 2i) into the telltale and, as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 6, the oil engages the flow detector 28 due to the position of the bale 2l. The sudden rush of oil will overbalance the weight 32 and give the operating n shaft Sil such a rotation that the contacts 34 and B, as shown in Fig. 3, are closed. This will in turn cause an alarm, so that the tank truck operator can stop the iiow.

For convenience, I make the reservoir compartment 22 of substantial size so that it will hold a rather large amount of liquid. I estimate that under normal circumstances, an operator can shut olf his tank rather quickly but to be on the safe side, the compartment 22 is adapted to hold about six gallons of oil, Which will take care of all the oil that would normally be discharged under emergency conditions. The oil drains from the receptacle 28, as hereinbefore mentioned, into the reservoir and the iiow detector automatically returns to non-alarm position.

After the fuel tank has been filled the quick acting coupling i9 may be released, and then I may turn the telltale on edge, as shown in Fig. 8, so that the oil can be discharged through the opening i5 and past the baffles 44. The bafile Ml satisfactorily prevents accidental escape of oil and makes it convenient to pour the liquid from the receptacle. The hose is then replaced in the hose compartment i6, the cover I2 closed and the telltale replaced on the truck.

I nd that by such a device, I not only eliminate all spilling or accidental overflow which heretofore has tended to spray all over grass, shrubbery, and the buildings and resulted in considerable expense and loss to the liquid dispensing company, but I am able to make deliveries more rapidly, and I can ll the tank Without repeatedly taking time to inspect the filling operation. The device is very easily carried and accomplishes in a very satisfactory manner the warning of the tank truck operator that the tank is lled. Furthermore it is not inadvertently operated by any discharge of air, as the receiving compartment 22 is open at the point 45 which acts as a vent.

While I have shown a preferred form of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that other modications may be made thereto and I therefore desire a broad interpretation of my invention within the scope and spirit of the description herein and of the claims appended hereinafter.

I c laim:

1. A portable overflow detector of the class described, comprising a container having a hose receiving compartment, a reservoir for receiving overflow and an alarm compartment having an alarm therein, means in the hose compartment detachably connectible to a source of overflow to conduct liquidy into the reservoir compartment and means in the reservoir compartment responsive to the flow of liquid therein to operate the alarm.

2. A portable container of the class described comprising a hose compartment having a exible hose therein, a quickly acting coupling on one end of said hose and adapted to be secured to a tank vent pipe, a reservoir in communication with the other end of said hose, an alarm means in said container, means to operate said alarm mechanism by liquid passing through said hose and means to stop the operation of said alarm mechanism when ow through the hose stops, and means to enable discharge of the liquid from said reservoir after the tank has been filled.

3. A portable overflow detector unit of the class described comprising an alarm means, a flow detector, vapor tight means detachably connectible to a source of overflow to convey liquid overflow to said iiow detector, and a reservoir to collect such overflow, said flow detector comprising means responsive to contact by said liquid overflow for operating said alarm means.

4. In the filling of fuel tanks of the class described, portable protector means to avoid damaging overflow from such tanks which comprises a conduit, a detachable coupling at one end of said conduit to be secured to a tank outlet, a container comprising a reservoir in communication with the other end of said conduit, an alarm means and a flow detector including means responsive to overflow liquid in said container for energizing said alarm means, said flow detector comprising a counterbalanced arm having va receptacle in position to receive liquid issuing from the last mentioned end of said conduit and movable under the weight of such liquid, said receptacle having means for draining liquid therefrom, whereby it will move to a de-energizing position after the flow of liquid theretoA ceases.

5. A portable alarm unit of the class described comprising a flexible conduit, a quickly detachable coupling at one end of said conduit adapted to be secured to a tank vent pipe, a container comprising a reservoir in communication with the other end of said conduit, an alarm means and means for operating said alarm means in Vresponse to liquid issuing from said conduit, including means for stopping the operation of said alarm means when said ow ceases.

6. In combination with a tank to be filled with fluid, said tank having a vent pipe, portable l 'tively large reservoir' to collect overflow.V

7. A portable overflow detector unit of the class described comprising an overflow indicating means, a iiow detector, means detachably connectible to a source o-f overflow to convey liquid overiiow to said flow detector and means to collect such overflow, ysaid flow detector comprising means responsive to contact by said liquid overflow for *actuatingY said overflow indicating means.

IVOR FRANCIS HENSLER. 

